Do you have a great idea for an app? It could help you make a fortune! From finance apps to job boards, apps are all the rage these days.
According to Tech Crunch, the average person uses nine unique apps per day and 30 unique apps in total per month, with users spending about 2 hours and 15 minutes on apps per day.
With the right idea, soon your app could be the hot new thing users obsess over. Of course, you’ll need to know how to turn your ideas into action.
Here’s everything you’ll need to know about how to turn an app idea into reality.
1. Give Yourself the Freedom to Brainstorm
We can’t count the number of times we’ve heard someone say “I have an idea for an app…but I don’t think it’s very good.”
Don’t give up before you’ve even started! One of the best gifts you can give yourself as a new app developer is the freedom to explore new ideas and concepts.
No matter how strange or zany an idea may seem at first, don’t self-edit yourself. Almost every concept has a kernel of a great idea somewhere in the details.
Write all of your ideas down in a safe, secure location. It can be your phone, a notebook, or even a pad of sticky notes. As long as your ideas are easily accessible and consolidated into one location, you’re good to go.
Once you’re done jotting down your idea, give it some room to breathe. Come back 24 to 48 hours later and expand on the idea. You’ll be surprised at some of the ingenious ideas you’ve come up with.
2. Understand The Reasons Behind App Usage
At the risk of oversimplifying, it’s possible to boil down our love of apps into three key categories:
- Entertainment.
- Education.
- Companionship.
Almost every app you see in the App Store or Google Play Store fulfills one of these three functions.
Entertainment is rather self-explanatory. This category includes apps like games or video streaming.
Plenty of apps have a great deal to teach us. Be it learning about your credit score, finding a new talent, or developing a skill, educational apps are among the most profitable.
Apps are also a great way to communicate and find companionship. Dating apps like Tinder or video chat apps like Skype or Facetime are prime examples.
As you begin to foster your idea, try and mold it into one of these three facets.
3. Aim to Solve a User Problem
While millions of apps get downloaded each day, few stay there. In fact, most see more than one use.
Only 16% of people will try an app more than once according to findings.
So how can you make sure that your great new app makes the cut? Make it useful.
Your ultimate aim in app development isn’t only to make money but to help improve users’ lives. Your app should solve a problem to stand the test of time.
4. Define Your Audience Early
The prevalence of app usage is a Catch-22.
On one hand, app development is more accessible than ever. Just about anyone can come up with a great idea and have a hit on their hands.
But on the other, every app needs a target. Your app can’t be all things to all people — it needs a narrowly-defined audience.
Once you have a clear definition of what you’d like your app to do, start conducting some market research.
Is now the right time to release your app? Is there even a market for this type of app in the first place?
Answering these questions can help you better market your app or assist in selling an app idea to a third party.
5. Design Around Your Business Model
According to Business of Apps, app revenue is projected to exceed $189 billion by 2020. But in order to enjoy the booming market, you’ll need to consider the three main business models of the app market:
- Free.
- Paid.
- Freemium.
Each business model has its own unique sets of advantages and disadvantages.
Take free apps, for instance. Since they’re free, they tend to get more downloads.
But at the same time, it’s often harder to make money via a free app. Unless you can sell ad space, it may be downright impossible, even.
Paid apps are trickier. It’s hard to convince consumers to pick a premium app over a free app, so you’ll need a thorough marketing strategy.
Freemium is a happy medium but can rub users the wrong way. Most freemium apps start out free and lock features behind a paywall or offer timed trials.
6. Protect Your Ideas
Once you’ve nailed down a good idea, you’ll need to protect it. This is far less expensive and difficult than many people believe.
First, make sure that everyone involved in the process — including those who will test the app — signs a non-disclosure agreement. It should clearly state what can and cannot be discussed throughout the development process.
It’s also a good idea to copyright and trademark your app. And despite common misconception, they’re not the same thing.
Copyrights will protect your ideas while a trademark will protect the individual aspects of your app. This includes original works of art, music, and more.
7. Create a Prototype
Whether you’re selling an app idea or intend to develop it yourself, you’ll need a proof of concept to bring your vision to life.
Often, the proof of concept phase beings with a wireframe. Think of it as a crude sketch of each screen of your app.
It should flesh out each interactive aspect of the app, including menu and button design.
8. Know When to Turn to the Pros
If you don’t have time or skill set needed to turn your idea into an app, don’t feel bad. An idea alone can still help you profit!
There are plenty of great app developers like Buildfire who specialize in bringing peoples’ visions to life off of nothing more than a great idea.
In fact, in many cases outsourcing is a smarter move for first-time developers. You won’t have to learn to code, manage Apple and Google’s guidelines, and you’ll get a guaranteed professional product.
How to Turn an App Idea into Reality and Make a Profit
As app usage continues to increase, there’s never been a better time to figure out how to turn an app idea into reality. And with these eight tips, you can do exactly that!
Of course, you’ll want to make the most of your newfound riches. Read up on our favorite money-saving secrets to help you create a nice little nest egg with your app money.
